11 Trim Paint Ideas for Your Home | Trim Paint Color Inspiration | Benjamin Moore (2024)

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Here’s the truth: There is no such thing as “trim paint.” The quality paint you use on your walls or ceiling is perfectly fine to use on trim, with many homeowners opting for a higher sheen to differentiate from the paint on their walls. If you have questions about which paint to use, the experts at your locally owned store can help you choose the product that best suits your project.

While any of Benjamin Moore’s premium paints can be used on trim, professional painters and DIYers alike love Advance® Interior, as it cures to a hard, furniture-quality finish with outstanding coverage and hide. Engineered with Gennex® Color Technology, Advance is available in all of our 3,500+ colors and is a great choice when it comes to trim paint.

Bright, crisp white trim offers a clean, beautiful frame in any space. Whether it’s part of an all-white monochromatic color scheme or the perfect contrast to a bold, statement-making paint, there is no doubt that white trim paint is a classic go-to option for many homeowners.

If you want your trim to pop, use a bolder trim color against neutral walls—think off-whites, greiges, and taupes.

In this dining room, two paint colors accentuate the statement-making French doors: Hale Navy HC-154 on the door’s mullions and Smoke 2122-40 on the trim.

Other colorful trim paint options we love:

Paint finish affects the overall look of any painted space. In this bathroom, the walls, trim, ceiling, and doors are all painted in White Heron OC-57, so sheen is important for adding dimension and contrast.

When choosing the best sheen for interior trim, popular choices include satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss. Higher sheens offer more durability, increased stain resistance, and a finish that stands up to repeated washing—a bonus for trim that’s vulnerable to wear and tear in high-traffic areas.

If you’re unsure which finish is right for your space, ask for a recommendation at your locally owned store.

Look to the undertone of your wall paint color to determine which shade of white will look best on your trim. If your wall color is warmer—with undertones of red, yellow, or orange—choose a white trim color with a similar undertone. If your walls are a cooler color—blue, green, or purple—stick with a crisp white hue.

If you’re applying one white trim paint color throughout your entire home, consider using one of these versatile picks:

Can a white paint color be bold? It can if you use it all over a room on the walls, trim, and ceiling.

To get this classic yet modern look, use your chosen white paint color in your entire space, switching up the sheen to draw attention to architectural details and the room’s dimensions, like we did here with Simply White OC-117.

Endlessly versatile and always a homeowner favorite, gray walls pair well with white trim. Make sure your selected hues share an undertone for a cohesive look.

Gray wall and white trim pairings you’ll love:

White painted trim lets a vibrant wall paint color be the star of the show, while highlighting intricate molding and millwork. Here, homeowner favorite Downpour Blue 2063-20 provides an elegant contrast against Simply White OC-117, a former Benjamin Moore Color of the Year beloved for its subtle wink of warmth.

Other color combinations we recommend for bold walls and white trim:

Bright, crisp white trim offers a beautiful frame for walls with deeply saturated colors. In bathrooms, let the walls and décor take center stage, while the trim and wainscoting play a supporting role in a clean white hue.

Here, blue-toned Baby’s Breath OC-62 trim pairs nicely with Stormy Sky 1616 walls. Other favorite white paint colors with blue undertones:

Flip the script on the traditional saturated wall color with white trim and try a white wall with gray trim. Whether you choose a soft greige or a rich charcoal, gray paint will draw the eye up and add dimension and visual interest.

Gray trim paint colors we love:

Painting the walls and trim different shades of the same color can help make smaller spaces feel larger. This monochromatic approach blurs the edges of the room and tricks the eye, a great choice for pantries, entryways, bathrooms, and smaller bedrooms. To maintain a cohesive appearance, keep the trim within the color scheme or choose a white with a shared undertone.

To get the look, try one of these monochromatic color schemes:

In spaces with a lot of natural lighting, bring a bit of the outdoors inside with a pastoral blue trim color. Stick to pales and pastels for an especially airy look, or go a shade deeper, like we did here with Whipple Blue HC-152.

Some of our favorite coastal blues for trim color:

A classic rich green trim can work wonders in any space. Here, Forest Green 2047-10 trim in a hallway creates a visually intriguing sightline for all who enter.

Other jewel-toned green hues we love for trim:

For a fresh take on a classic color scheme that seems plucked straight from French design, use thin lines of black paint to delineate a space and create depth in an all-white room. Add black-and-white accents, like we did here with a striped rug, to make the look really pop.

Love this style? Try it yourself with one of these black-and-white paint color combinations:

Ready to let your trim take center stage? Painting trim and wainscoting the same hue can have as much impact as an accent wall. Go beyond a neutral color scheme by using a green-gray like Mountain Air CC-636, which creates a nice contrast against Dune White CC-70 walls in this entryway.

Other green-gray paint colors to try:

For a goes-with-anything soft white trim:
A versatile classic, White Dove OC-17 is a homeowner favorite for trim paint because of its subtle touch of warmth.

For trim with cooler wall colors:
White Heron OC-57 and Decorator’s White OC-149 are two favorite trim paint colors for walls with cool undertones—think greens, blues, violets, and cool grays.

For trim with warmer wall colors:
Cloud White OC-130 and Simply White OC-117 are both great choices for trim next to warmer wall colors—think reds, oranges, yellows, beiges, and tans.

For bright, clean, white trim:
Chantilly Lace OC-65 and Super White OC-152 top our experts’ list for a super-crisp white paint color.

Especially eye-catching when paired with white or neutral walls, colorful trim adds character and depth to any space. Whether you go for a whimsical look with a pale or pastel hue or add drama with a jewel tone, painting the trim is an easy way to add a pop of color to your home without having to paint an entire wall.

Consider these combinations for a colorful look that makes an impact.

“When using one color for the walls and trim, we love painting the interior doors the same color as well for a completely uninterrupted look,” says Benjamin Moore color expert Arianna Barone. “When using bolder hues, it allows you to be more immersed in the color.”

The mighty impact of this one-color approach is beautifully illustrated in this dining room, painted entirely in Spectra Blue 2049-50.

Intricate crown moldings deserve to be a focal point in any room.

For these iconic architectural features, consider these approaches:

After you’ve found your trim paint color, it’s time to get painting. For tips on how to paint trim, head to our full step-by-step guide or view our how-to video.

Step 1: Stock up on supplies. At the least, you’ll need painters tape, a quality primer (we recommend Fresh Start®), and your choice of premium interior paint. You’ll also need the best brushes for painting trim: 1½- and 2½-inch angle sash brushes.

Step 2: Inspect the trim. Before you prep your trim for painting, check it for any nicks or damage. Your locally owned store can help you decide how to make any necessary repairs.

Step 3: Prepare the surface. If your trim has an existing glossy finish, sand it lightly to help the trim accept the new coat of paint. Finish all prep by wiping the trim with a damp sponge and allowing it to dry thoroughly.

Step 4: Apply the paint. Protect your walls by taping off the wall area adjacent to the trim. When you are ready to paint, start from the top and work down in this order: molding, window trim, door frames, and baseboards.